This lesson covers 50 C2 phrasal verbs on Legal. At Proficiency you must distinguish particles that change meaning subtly and match register across formal and informal contexts. Complete the runner, then use the glossary below to consolidate each verb. Detailed explanations appear in Review mode once you finish the set.
deal with
to take action in order to achieve something, or in order to solve a problem
The legal department is best equipped to _____ the complex regulatory issues.
slam down
to put something down with a lot of force
In frustration the lawyer _____ his files _____ on the table during the heated debate.
smash up
to badly damage or destroy something by hitting it many times
The angry protester tried to _____ the laboratory equipment during the demonstration.
hush up
to stop the public from finding out about something bad that has happened
The company attempted to _____ the safety incident to protect its reputation.
set on
to attack someone, or to make a person or animal attack someone
The security guard threatened to _____ the dog on the intruder.
get away with
to succeed in not being criticised or punished for something wrong that you have done
The company thought it could _____ the safety violations but regulators eventually found out.
throw out
if people in authority throw out a plan or idea [e.g. bill, proposal] they refuse to accept or use it
The regulatory body decided to _____ the company's application for the new licence.
come under
to be controlled or dealt with by a particular authority
All new medical devices will now _____ strict European Union safety regulations.
inform on
to give information about someone who has done something wrong to a person in authority, especially the police
The whistle-blower decided to _____ the company to the regulatory authorities.
land in
to be in a difficult situation, or to cause someone to be in a difficult situation or an unpleasant place [e.g. prison]
His reckless decision could _____ the entire department in serious legal trouble.
gather up
to collect several things, especially from different places, and put them together
Please _____ all the confidential documents _____ before the visitors arrive.
abide by
to accept or obey an agreement, rule, or decision
All parties must _____ the terms of the international treaty to avoid penalties.
flush out
to force a person or animal to come out of the place they are hiding in
The security team managed to _____ the intruder from the restricted area.
take up with
to discuss something or deal with something
The legal team promised to immediately _____ the matter with the regulatory authorities.
keep from
to prevent someone from doing something, especially work, by spending time with them
The new security measures are designed to _____ unauthorised personnel the restricted area.
take out
to kill someone, or to destroy something
The special forces were ordered to _____ the high-value target during the covert operation.
think through
to plan carefully
The legal team needs to fully _____ all possible consequences before proceeding.
go for
to attack someone
The suspect suddenly _____ the officers when they tried to arrest him.
stake out
if the police or reporters stake out a building where someone is living or hiding, they watch the building continuously in order to see who is leaving or entering it
The police decided to _____ the suspect's house for the entire weekend.
follow up
to find out more about something
The legal team promised to _____ the complaint _____ within 48 hours.
blend in
if something or someone blends in, they look or seem the same as the things or people around them and so you do not notice them
The undercover investigator needed to _____ perfectly with the local population.
shake off
to succeed in escaping from someone who is following you
The undercover investigator managed to _____ the suspicious followers in the crowded market.
boil down
to sth slightly informal if a situation or problem boils down to a particular thing, that is the main reason for it
The entire complex negotiation _____ to one key issue: data privacy.
rule out
to say no to something
The investigators have not yet completely _____ the possibility of foul play.
put back
to change the date or time of an event so that it happens later than planned
The regulatory review had to be _____ by at least two weeks due to new evidence.
close off
to put something across the entrance to something, in order to prevent people from entering it
Police decided to _____ the entire area _____ while forensic experts examined the crime scene.
clear up
to give or find an explanation for something, or to deal with a problem or disagreement
The investigators were able to _____ the confusion surrounding the missing research data.
run into
if you run into difficulties or problems, you begin to experience them
The project unexpectedly began to _____ several unforeseen regulatory hurdles.
drag out
to continue for longer than is necessary, or to make something do this
The lawyers tried to _____ the negotiations _____ for as long as possible.
be founded on
to be based on a particular idea or belief
The entire legal system is _____ the principle of equality before the law.
thrash out
to discuss a problem, idea, or plan in detail until you find a solution, reach an agreement, or make a decision
The two sides spent several hours trying to _____ a mutually acceptable compromise.
give yourself up
to allow the police to catch you
The suspect eventually decided to _____ to the authorities.
knock about
to hit or kick someone several times
The suspect was accused of _____ the victim during the altercation.
fix up
to arrange something [esp. meeting]
We need to _____ a meeting with the regulatory body as soon as possible.
deprive of
to take something important away from someone
The new law aims to prevent anyone being _____ their basic human rights.
work out
to think carefully about how you are going to do something and to make a plan or decision
The legal team spent weeks trying to carefully _____ the terms of the complex merger agreement.
choke back
to force yourself not to show your feelings
The witness had to _____ her tears _____ while giving evidence in court.
cough up
to provide money for something, especially when you are not very willing to do this
The insurance company finally agreed to _____ the full compensation after months of pressure.
bang down
to put something down with force, often because you are angry
In frustration, the lawyer _____ his files _____ on the table during the heated debate.
make out
to claim falsely that something is true; to pretend
The defence tried to _____ that the evidence was inconclusive.
clear away
to remove things in order to make a place tidy
Please _____ all the confidential documents _____ before the visitors arrive.
drag out of
to make someone tell you something that they do not want to tell you
The investigators finally managed to _____ the truth out of the reluctant witness.
gun down
to shoot someone and kill or seriously injure them, often when they cannot defend themselves
The witness was brutally _____ in broad daylight outside the courthouse.
spin out
to make something last longer than necessary
The lawyers tried to _____ the negotiations for as long as possible.
let off
to not punish someone who has committed a crime or done something wrong, or to not punish someone severely
The judge decided to _____ the first-time offender with a warning.
worm out of
to manage to get information from someone which they are trying to keep secret
The investigator finally managed to _____ the truth out of the reluctant witness.
gloss over
to avoid discussing something, or to discuss something without talking about the details in order to make it seem unimportant
The report tried to _____ the serious safety concerns raised by the independent auditors.
move into
to start dealing with a difficult situation or problem
The regulatory authorities decided to _____ the ongoing safety investigation.
iron out
to find a way of solving small difficulties or problems, or to find a way of ending a disagreement
The legal team worked hard to _____ the final details of the contract.
piece together
to try to understand a situation or to try to discover the truth about something by collecting different pieces of information and considering them at the same time
The investigators slowly began to _____ the sequence of events leading to the accident.